The Chronicles of Namikaze Naruto

by Blackfyre80

What if Naruto's potential was acknowledged early on? What if he was given the titles robbed of him? Imagine what his story would have turned into if Naruto were molded into the shinobi he was meant to be. Power, wealth, and recognition. Witness as Naruto becomes both the terror of the shinobi world and a relevant player on the world stage, much like his father before him.

32. Dogfight

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Konoha Hospital}

August 23rd.

---

Line break.

"He'll be happy to see you, Hanabi. Relax," Hinata said as she walked beside her sibling.

"I-I'm trying," the girl nervously whispered.

The Hyuga daughters and their retainers arrived at the hospital, which was, as usual, the busiest place in the village. It was packed with families who were either grieving, pacing with worry, or confirming the health of those they were visiting. Many waited outside, hoping for the best.

The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, looked up as they approached. She greeted them with a polite nod, her gaze lingering briefly on Hinata, recognizing the Hyuga heiress. "We're here to see Hyuga Hiashi," Takumi said formally.

The receptionist scanned her list and nodded. "Room 308, down the hall and to your left," she instructed.

Takumi thanked her, and they continued down the hallway.

They passed several rooms where shinobi were being treated, some still bearing wounds from the invasion. A sobering reminder for both girls.

When they reached the door to Room 308, Hinata paused, her hand hovering just above the handle. She turned to Hanabi, who looked up with a mix of hope and fear.

Hinata gave her a reassuring nod before slowly opening the door, their retainers staying behind.

The room was quiet, the soft beeping of a monitor the only sound. Hiashi lay on the bed, his face pale and frame weaker than they'd ever seen. Half his body was extensively bandaged, with spots of blood staining the fabric. He looked over at them, his eyes heavy but his expression still stern.

Hanabi's breath hitched as she stepped forward, her eyes fixed on their father. "Father..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Come closer, both of you," he said, his voice weaker than usual but still carrying authority.

Hinata felt Hanabi trembling slightly beside her and gave her sister's hand a comforting squeeze. Hanabi's breathing was uneven, her eyes watering as she struggled to maintain her composure.

The two stepped closer, and a long silence followed as Hiashi looked at his daughters, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he lifted a hand, gesturing for Hanabi to come closer. The young girl hesitated before stepping forward, her eyes wide as she took her father's hand.

"I am glad to see you both well," Hiashi said, his gaze shifting to Hinata. There was something in his eyes—a mixture of pride, regret, and something else she couldn't quite place.

Hinata bowed her head slightly in response, which made him frown a bit. "Father, we're glad you're awake," Hinata said softly, her voice steady and professional.

Hanabi tried to keep her composure, but Hiashi decided it wasn't necessary.

"Hanabi. Come here," Hiashi ordered.

The younger Hyuga girl looked to Hinata, who nodded softly. With a soft sob, Hanabi rushed to his side, her small hands grasping his. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

"F-Father," Hanabi choked out, her voice quivering with emotion. "I... I'm sorry... for not being stronger! For not paying attention! Had I-"

Hiashi cut her off by raising his functioning hand. His gaze softened as he watched his youngest daughter stumble. "You were not the reason I fell, child. It was not your fault. I am in your debt. You got me the help I needed. Both of you did."

Hanabi looked down, and Hiashi, to her surprise, pulled her in by the head and kissed her forehead.

Naturally, the girl broke down, sobbing into the older Hyuga's hospital gown, her hands clutching the fabric tightly.

He gently rubbed the back of Hanabi's head to soothe her. It was all he could do in the moment, as she had been reduced to a mess of tears and hiccups. It would take her a while to calm down.

Hiashi's gaze shifted back to Hinata, who watched her sister cry, her own expression neutral.

After the reunion, Hiashi conversed with Hanabi, asking about her studies, whether she was physically affected by the incident, and anything else the talkative young girl could tell him.

It was all he could do for her now; he was simply glad to have her here, in his presence.

Hanabi told him everything she could after calming down, and for a moment, they seemed normal in Hinata's eyes, like a father and daughter, not like the constant and professional relationship forced onto them by a rigid clan and its rules.

When Hiashi turned back to her, he frowned slightly. She could tell he had something to say, but he kept it in, whether due to pride or uncertainty about the right words, she wasn't sure. It mattered little.

"Hanabi. I need to speak... with your sister... Alone," he said between coughs.

Hanabi frowned but nodded, hugging him one last time before standing. "Get well, Father. I can't wait until you're better," she said before walking to her sister, who opened the door for her.

Once the door closed, silence settled over the room, and Hinata turned back to her father, her eyes meeting his with a calculating gaze. "What do you wish to discuss, Father?" she asked, her voice formal, devoid of warmth.

Hiashi sighed, sitting up straighter. "Tell me about the current affairs of the clan. I wish to understand what has occurred in my absence."

Hinata nodded, stepping closer to the bed. "Not much has changed. Grandfather is still in charge, overseeing the clan's affairs as usual."

Hiashi's eyes narrowed at that, but Hinata's gaze remained unchanged. "You speak as though I haven't been in control."

"Have you? My apologies. It just seems to me that every decision made was-"

"Hinata, please," the man interrupted with a tired sigh. "I know I haven't been a good father-"

"I don't care whether you're a good father or not. I don't seek that kind of approval anymore. What frustrates me is that you've allowed every decision ever made to go through Hiroshi. I am the heiress of this clan, yet I am closer to being some ideal specimen of his rather than your heir," Hinata said with a bit of frustration, and the man raised an eyebrow.

"You think you haven't been raised in a way that wasn't approved by me?" the man asked.

"Did you see the way I was raised? Were you there for our sessions? Our lessons? You approved his teachings, but you never observed them," she said, crossing her arms.

Hiashi remained silent, pondering her words for a moment before nodding. "I see your point."

Hinata said nothing to this admission. She simply waited for another one of his orders, and he deflated fully in his bed at this. "Is there anything else to report, daughter?"

"There was a meeting with the Koneko family regarding the marriage arrangement for Masuda and myself." She paused, her expression darkening slightly. "The meeting did not end well. Grandfather insulted the Koneko family, as their current standing is precarious."

Hiashi frowned, his eyes narrowing. "The Koneko family... their situation is dire?"

"Yes," Hinata replied curtly. "Their influence has waned significantly since the death of the previous ruling Fire Daimyo. The former Daimyo was removed from court along with his family, and a selection is to occur next month. They have little power now. Because of this, Grandfather made it clear he has no interest in pursuing an alliance with them any longer."

Hiashi's lips thinned at that. "What did he do?"

"He humiliated my former betrothed. As it turns out, Masuda-san was... rendered a cripple. It wasn't something I found concerning, but Grandfather was right in inspecting Masuda. He is impotent now. Marrying him without this knowledge would have cost us," Hinata said with a sigh.

Hiashi took a moment to process this. "Even still. How did he—"

"He pointed this fact out to the Koneko dynasty in an unflattering way. The humiliation they suffered has damaged our relationship with them permanently," she said.

"And what are your thoughts on this?" Hiashi asked, wanting to understand her perspective.

"I think his handling of it was careless. I was taught not to make enemies needlessly, yet he's done so in front of me with little regard for what the future could hold. He showed no diplomatic awareness when addressing their issue. Instead of simply turning them away, he went too far," Hinata said firmly.

Hiashi sighed in relief, thankful she understood the mistake. Yet there was something he felt he needed to add. "You are mistaken in your assessment. He was aware of what he was doing, Hinata."

She frowned, raising a brow. "Explain."

"Hiroshi made enemies of them intentionally. He's likely made it public that he has no intention of aligning with the former tyrant. House Koneko has many enemies, and our association with them while he's in charge could reflect badly on us. However, his method was... excessive," Hiashi explained.

Hinata nodded, understanding his point. "Is that all? I understand you need your rest-"

"No. One more thing." He cut off. "It's about Neji and his condition. His hands-"

Hinata's body stiffened, her eyes narrowing as she interrupted him. " Neji's injuries are not my concern."

Hiashi shook his head, meeting her gaze. "That is not what I meant. I do not blame you for what happened. In fact, I believe the fault lies with me and your grandsires. I allowed my father and uncle to pit you both against one another, using you as pawns in their rivalry. You were both children, and we failed you."

Hinata's eyes widened slightly, her composure faltering. "You... you're apologizing?"

Hiashi nodded, his expression weary. "Yes. I have been weak-willed in the face of my father's influence. I allowed you to be molded into what he wanted. A weapon. I failed to protect you, to nurture you as your mother would have wanted. For that, I am truly sorry."

Hinata's gaze hardened once more, her voice cold. "I don't care that Grandfather shaped me into his ideal weapon. What I care about is that Hanabi was targeted, that you did nothing to stop it. You broke Mother's promise to protect Hanabi. What I want is for you to have some form of control as it should be."

Her voice was sharp, but her expression remained impassive. There was no anger, no pain—only cold logic. Hiashi took a deep breath, his gaze softening.

"I know," he said quietly. "I failed you both. I can see that now. I am trying to change, but I understand it may be too late."

Hinata looked at him for a long moment before speaking, her voice softer. "Grandfather will use Hanabi to control me. He already has. And you... in your current state, you cannot protect her or anyone."

To her surprise, Hiashi nodded, his expression resigned. "You're right. I am not in a position to protect anyone. But I will do what I can, whatever is within my power, to make amends. And the first step is to ensure my successor is beyond his reach. I need you to do something for me. There is a note hidden in my office, a note from Neji's father. It was meant for him, and I believe it's time he read it. Could you deliver it to him?"

Hinata's gaze hardened, and she opened her mouth to protest, but he cut her off.

"Please, Hinata. I am the one at fault, and I must ensure he receives what is his. My condition is... precarious. I don't know if I'll—"

"You'll live, Father. Don't speak of such nonsense. I'll find this note and leave it in his room," Hinata said.

Hiashi looked as though a sudden weight was lifted from his shoulders. He finally relaxed. "It's in the safe beneath the desk; the combination is the date you were born. Be discreet," he said, his eyes drooping.

Hinata stood there, her eyes fixed on her father's form. A mix of emotions played across her features at the combination, but she pushed them aside, nodding.

---

Line Break

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Hyuga Compound}

Hiroshi hated having his hand forced like this, but there were no other options. Hiashi being awake meant a time limit had been added, and soon, certain acts would become impossible to achieve with his son up and about. Hence, the meeting between himself and his biggest supporters.

The meeting began with Hiroshi Hyuga standing at the door to his office, personally welcoming his allies from the regency council as they entered the room one by one. The office was spacious enough for such a gathering. He had even brought back Hiashi's elegant furnishings for the occasion.

A main family servant silently moved among the guests, distributing cups of tea as Hiroshi gestured to the arranged seats. Once everyone was settled, Hiroshi took his place at the head of the room, crossing his arms to exude an air of authority.

Hiroshi cleared his old throat and spoke. "Thank you all for joining me today. The Hyuga clan stands at the brink of a significant transformation. It is time for us to expand beyond the confines of our traditional compound. My plan is to acquire a portion of the Namikaze-owned Nishi Gardens and establish a true Hyuga district. This expansion will provide our clan with the space we deserve. space that was robbed from us long ago. It's time we elevate ourselves to new heights."

Shinji Hyuga raised a brow at this. "The Namikaze land? Are we certain we can secure it? The Namikaze boy has only just entered the political arena. Surely waiting for him to... settle into his role would help us secure him to our side, right?"

"Hinata has been tasked with this mission," Hiroshi responded. "She will negotiate a deal with the Namikaze boy, and we will acquire the land."

Council Member Reiji leaned forward at this. "Hinata? Are you sure she's up to this? Negotiating with the Namikaze, while others are also after him, could... produce unpredictable results."

Shinji nodded in agreement. "At best, we'd scare him off."

Hiroshi shook his head. "Hinata understands the stakes. She knows what is expected of her. She is cunning. You all know this. This land is crucial to our future plans, and she will see it done."

Takuma Hyuga rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes almost obscured by his sagging brows. "Expanding is all well and good, Hiroshi, but what about the branch family? How do we keep them in line once we are no longer sharing the same compound?"

Hiroshi gave a ghost of a smile and finally sat down in his own chair. "This is precisely why I have gathered you all here. The separation from the branch family will introduce certain... challenges. We will no longer be able to monitor them as closely as we do now. With this distance, there is a risk of disobedience, whispers of rebellion, or attempts to remove their seals in secret."

Shinji bristled. "Rebellion? Hiroshi, surely you don't think the branch family would dare? Our grip has been fierce for many generations. We've culled that out of them."

Reiji nodded. "I have to agree with Shinji. The branch family has been obedient for generations. Why would they risk everything now?"

Hiroshi's eyes narrowed, his tone cold. "You speak as if we haven't already had close calls within the compound. The branch family harbors resentment. They have ambitions. Do you not remember the recent match between Neji and Hinata? The scheme was more complex than you may think. He was supposed to be their martyr. He was supposed to cripple or kill Hinata, and he failed. Imagine what could have happened had he succeeded. To underestimate them would be a mistake. We cannot afford to be complacent. We are moving into new territory, and with that comes new risks."

Reiji sighed, reminded of the old days when demonstrations were held to show who was in charge. Only this time, the scale he was hinting at was much bigger.

"Then what do you propose, Hiroshi? More guards? Surveillance measures?" the elder asked.

Hiroshi leaned his head on his fist and closed his eyes as he explained. "More guards won't solve the problem. Surveillance will only take us so far. What we need is a way to ensure that, no matter where the branch family is, we maintain complete control over them."

Daichi Hyuga, Hiroshi's closest ally, cleared his throat, drawing attention. "There is a solution, a modification of the Caged Bird Seal."

He reached for a set of scrolls on the table and unfurled the first one. "This version of the seal would also include a chakra suppression feature. If a branch family member attempts to use advanced jutsu without permission, the seal would automatically suppress their chakra network, rendering them powerless."

Shinji leaned over and activated his Byakugan to get a better look at the inner workings of the seal. "Suppress their chakra? That could be useful. It would prevent them from gaining strength beyond what we deem acceptable."

Takuma frowned "But wouldn't that hinder their usefulness in battle? The branch family serves as our fighters. If they can't use their chakra freely..."

Daichi shook his head. "The suppression would only activate under certain conditions. It wouldn't hinder them during missions unless they attempted something without authorization. It would ensure they remain strong, but not too strong."

Hiroshi nodded. "Precisely. We need them to be capable, but not capable enough to challenge us."

Daichi moved to the second scroll. "This right here allows for memory suppression. If a branch family member learns something they shouldn't or begins to harbor dangerous thoughts, this would allow us to delve into their minds and... Alter those memories."

Reiji, raising an eyebrow, "Erasing memories? Isn't that a bit extreme?"

Hiroshi scoffed. "Nothing is too extreme if it ensures the safety and stability of the clan. We cannot allow them to gain knowledge that could be used against us. Neji attaining two of our main family techniques is an example."

"Is that how long this project has been going on for?" asked Shinji.

Hiroshi nodded. "Yes. It was when we witnessed Neji using techniques of the main family that Daichi and I came together to draft this. I'm sure you all agree that a branch member holding main family secrets is a problem... especially if he decides to pass them on."

The men in the room all tensed at that possibility. Shinji nodded slowly in response as well. "I see your point. If they can't remember, they can't act on such... rebellion. It would prevent any attempts to steal from us again, or worse, to organize or rebel."

Daichi unfurled the third scroll. "This draft includes a feature that compels obedience. If a branch family member refuses a direct order, the seal will force their body to comply. It would be akin to having complete physical control over them."

Takuma's eyes widened. "You mean we could make them obey against their will? Physically force them to follow orders?"

Daichi nodded. "Exactly. They would have no choice. Their bodies would move according to our commands, regardless of their own desires."

"That would certainly solve the problem of disobedience. They wouldn't be able to resist at all," Shinji said as he got more comfortable in his seat.

Reiji nodded. "It would make them perfect tools. No hesitation, no refusal."

Hiroshi stood, a thin smile crossing his lips as he spoke. "There is one more design I wish to present."

He pulled out a Fourth scroll, one that had not been shown to anyone until now. The scroll contained a dark and intricate seal, with tendrils that seemed to branch out and intertwine in a complex pattern.

Hiroshi crossed his arms. "This version is the ultimate form of control. Not only does it induce pain, suppress chakra, and compel obedience, but it also includes a low-level discomfort that never ceases—a constant reminder of their place. It will keep them subdued, obedient, and fearful at all times. There is even a way to keep an eye on them from a distance."

Shinji leaned forward eagerly. "A constant reminder? extra surveillance? And they would always feel it?"

Hiroshi nodded. "Yes. A low-level pain that never goes away and a way to keep an eye on them. It will ensure they know their place at every moment of every day. It will keep them from even thinking about rebellion."

Takuma, nodded."This... this could be exactly what we need. If they are always in discomfort, they will never have the strength or the will to fight back."

Reiji smiled, his eyes gleaming. "It would make them completely submissive. They wouldn't even dare think of rebellion."

Daichi, nodded. "With this seal, we would have complete and utter control. The branch family would be unable to resist, unable to defy us in any way. On top of that, other features could be added that would require maintenance. Otherwise, the pain would increase over time. They'd be reliant on us at all times."

Hiroshi sipped his tea and spoke. "Exactly. This is the future of the Hyuga clan. With this new seal, we will ensure that the branch family remains in their rightful place, no matter where they live or what they do. They will be ours, completely and utterly."

Shinji smirked. "I support this. It is the only way to ensure our safety and the safety of the clan."

Takuma nodded. "Agreed. We cannot afford to take risks. The branch family must be controlled."

Reiji crossed his arms, staring at the seals. "And with the new district, we will have the space we need to grow, without the constant threat of rebellion."

Daichi clasped his hands together. "Then it is settled. We will move forward with the development of the new seal."

Hiroshi looked over his clansmen. "Good. Now, onto the next matter. The merchants who have refused to cooperate with our other means of expansion. They have shown a lack of respect for the Hyuga, and this cannot be tolerated."

Reiji frowned. "What do you propose, Hiroshi?"

Hiroshi scowled and sat back, clearing the table. "We will apply pressure—economic pressure, social pressure. We will ensure they understand the consequences of refusing us."

Takuma nodded. "We could cut off their access to our resources. Make it difficult for them to do business in our area."

Shinji shook his head. "Our influence isn't commercial-based. We need to think of something else, something major. The Uchiha clan used to bully those who opposed them, but we have more class than that."

Hiroshi scowled. "An example still needs to be made of them. Perhaps we could hinder them through another ally? Find someone influential enough to challenge them and go from there."

Reiji nodded. "That sounds right. I'm sure the rest of the council would have their own suggestions, but allying with other businesses is important. Especially if we're going to put the other minor clans in their place for assisting in this... inconvenience."

Hiroshi turned to the servant who had been standing quietly by the wall. His face was pale, and his hands trembled slightly. "Go and bring more snacks for our guests."

The servant bowed quickly and left the room, his heart pounding. As soon as he was out of earshot, he hurried through the halls, seeking out someone, anyone who could help.

What the men in that room didn't realize was that this servant was a blackmailed informant under Higashi—a spy. This was his ticket to freeing himself from Higashi's clutches. He wouldn't owe that old man anymore.

The young man found a branch family member down the corridor, one of Higashi's trusted servants, and immediately relayed the news.

"They are planning something terrible. A new seal, more oppressive than anything we've seen before. They want to control you all completely."

The branch member's eyes widened in shock. "This... this cannot be. In what way? What does—"

"No time! Listen. Tell them that a new design is under development, and do so fast. I have to go," the servant said before rushing toward the kitchens.

The branch member stood there in silence before snapping out of his shock.

---

Line break.

The branch member turned and ran down the hallway, his footsteps echoing off the walls as he made his way to the branch family drawing room, where Higashi was meeting with the other branch elders.

Bursting into the room, the branch member panted heavily, his face stricken with fear.

Higashi looked up with a frown. "What is it?! Why have you disturbed us in such a fashion?!"

The branch member, gasping, spoke up, spilling what he knew on a surface level. It was enough to make one of the old men clutch his heart. The sound of a teacup shattering on the floor was all that followed. Then, silence.

---

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Namikaze Estate}

[Naruto POV]

Naruto had been up for some time. Jiraiya had just left to take care of business, and in the meantime, Naruto was packing up, preparing for the coming week.

Naturally, this meant going back to his apartment, though he was a bit wary. The last time he'd left the safety of his space, he'd been hounded like an animal by nobility and merchants alike. Hinata had promised protection, yet he wasn't sure what form it would take.

'Okay, here goes nothing then,' Naruto thought, stepping out of his estate and making his way down the cobblestone path.

Leaving through the gate, he trekked down the rest of the property until he reached Nishi Gardens and continued through the wealthy neighborhood. So far, no disturbances.

He walked briskly, waving off individuals greeting him casually, yet sensed people following him. Looking around, he quickly identified them: they were Hyuga. This was surprising, but those who looked to approach him were discouraged by their presence. Even if they weren't close, they trailed him like Anbu, keeping others at bay.

"Well, shit," Naruto whispered. "She actually kept her end of the deal."

Naruto stopped and looked around—really looked around. People passed by as usual, going about their day, and he couldn't help but plant his hands on his hips and smirk. "Well damn. I can breathe."

He smiled, walked over to a food stand, put some cash down, and grabbed a bowl of steamed buns. "Damn, this feels nice. Peace at last."

He walked down the road toward the street he was more familiar with, eating as he went and waving back at passing civilians, suddenly excited to be without potential confrontation.

---

Line break.

He made his way into his apartment building, skipping happily, acting his age for once before slipping into his home and getting to work on packing his things.

He threw together clothes, scrolls, and some packed food, just in case they ended up taking a wilderness shortcut and needed to camp out. 'Good thing I stayed organized. Otherwise, I'd—wait, I spoke too soon. Where's my journal?' he thought, looking through the drawer in his room.

"Why can't I seem to... Oh. Wait. It's at the estate. Damn," he muttered aloud before shoving the drawer closed with a sigh.

After packing his backpack and scrolls, he went to his fridge, throwing out anything that would surely spoil during his absence. He didn't want to deal with cleaning his fridge out again. His experience in the Wave Country had taught him a lesson.

All in all, things were moving fast and smoothly.

Thirty minutes passed, and he was sorted—a miracle.

"Well, damn! I'm proud of myself! Look at me, already packed and ready to go. I can call myself responsible now!" he praised, patting himself on the back and throwing his bag over his shoulder.

Then, there was a knock on the door. He turned toward the source of the noise.

'Surely that isn't Jiraiya,' he thought, grabbing his other pair of sandals and walking toward the door.

He opened it… and regretted it. Kiba stood there, arms crossed, with an angry expression on his face. "What the hell is this?" he asked, looking Naruto up and down and seeing him packed for something.

Naruto sighed and dropped his bag. "What do you want now, Kiba?"

Kiba's eye twitched with irritation. "Don't act like you forgot. Or are you running away from me? I see you have your bags packed."

Naruto didn't react to the jab, merely pinching the bridge of his nose before calming down. "What is your issue? You look pissed for some reason. What do you want? What did I do?"

"Excuse me? Have you forgotten, you arrogant prick?!" Kiba growled.

"Uh... I guess so. Educate me. I'm a busy guy nowadays, so make it quick," Naruto said, letting Kiba in, much to the Inuzuka's surprise.

Kiba stepped in and watched Naruto gather the rest of his things. "Where are you going?"

"On a trip with my godfather. I'm running an important errand. Classified stuff," Naruto said with a smug expression, sitting on the couch and crossing his legs.

Kiba glared. "Spoiled little... Whatever. First of all, you can't just bail when we have a score to settle."

Naruto raised a brow. "What score?"

"What do you mean- don't act dumb, you moron! Our match! Our rematch! You ran your mouth, talking about how you'd best me without using ninjutsu! Well, we're having that match today!" Kiba yelled.

Naruto looked up in thought, and Kiba grew angrier. "It was a few days ago, you clown!" he roared.

Naruto scowled at the name-calling but brushed it off. "Kiba, you took that seriously? I was matching your energy, that's all. I don't have time to entertain you today; I'm busy. Besides, we know who's stronger between-"

"Cut that out! I lost due to bad luck! That's all! On top of that, you talked down to me in front of our entire graduating class! I'm not having it! We're settling this!" Kiba yelled.

At this point, Naruto realized Kiba wasn't being his usual annoying self. He was serious.

"Holy shit," Naruto whispered. "You're delusional."

"What?!" Kiba yelled, stepping closer.

"You heard me the first time. Did you not see the match between me and Lee?" Naruto asked, standing up.

"I've been training, idiot. Of course, I'm aware that you're strong. But no one knows how strong I am because you lucked out in our fight and pulled those chains out of nowhere! They have this... this—"

"Misconception?" Naruto corrected.

"Shut up and let me finish! I was going to say false image! They have a false image of you! Everyone's treating you like you're invincible! You even have Ino-"

"Let me stop you right there, Kiba. I don't know what your deal is, but I'll schedule our spar-"

"No spar! I want a rematch! Same rules as the exams," Kiba growled.

Naruto stared at Kiba for a moment before glancing at the clock on his wall. "Okay, you know what? Fine. Let's get this out of the way. But remember, you're challenging me. I'm not going out of my way to invite a bunch of people to watch you fail again."

"Forget you! We'll see about that!" Kiba yelled, shoving Naruto out of his way as he left. "Meet me at Training Ground 12 by four!"

Naruto straightened his jacket and growled. 'I should've laid him out for that. I've been too lenient.'

---

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Aburame District}

"What?! Kiba, no!" Shino yelled.

"Yes! I want you to be the ref!" Kiba said, and Akamaru barked behind him.

Shino hesitated, looking back into his house before putting a hand out. "Stay here," he said before stepping back inside and closing the door.

Kiba groaned, pacing impatiently. "What is with him? Why can't he be helpful for once?"

After a few minutes, Shino returned, better dressed, crossing his arms. Kiba could feel the glare even through Shino's shades. "Kiba, this is dumb. You could get hurt."

"Duh! Combat will do that to a guy," Kiba said, rolling his eyes.

"That's-... you aren't understanding. Unlike Naruto's team, which is a bit more flexible given their circumstances, we could be called to a mission at any time," Shino said.

"Will you be the ref or not?" Kiba asked. "If you won't, I'll get Shikamaru."

"Shikamaru won't approve either," Shino said.

Kiba scoffed. "Then I'll get Lee. Someone will step in if you won't."

Shino thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I will not encourage this match. Naruto is-"

"Stop right there. I've heard enough. Bye," Kiba said with a growl, turning on his heel and walking away.

Shino sighed heavily and shook his head. 'This is unacceptable. I can't stop this... but I know who might.'

---

Line break.

Kiba, having failed to recruit Shino, went off to find Lee and saw him doing stretches… but he wasn't alone. Sasuke was also stretching. They seemed to be warming up for something.

"Oy! Lee! I need a favor!" Kiba yelled, jogging toward them.

Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes; he wanted nothing to do with Kiba.

Lee stood up, grinning. "Ah! You're that Kiba kid from the exams! What is it you require of me? I will gladly lend you my aid!"

"Don't lend him aid. It'll be a waste of your precious time," Sasuke said, crossing his arms. "Lee's busy. We're about to spar."

Kiba scoffed. "I wasn't talking to you, Uchiha. Butt out!"

He then addressed Lee directly. "Lee! I have a match with Naruto this afternoon and need a ref. Shino wouldn't do it, and I'd like someone who isn't biased."

Sasuke's eyebrow quirked. "Are you serious? You're fighting Naruto? There's no way he'd—"

"He accepted, so shut up!" Kiba growled.

"Woah, guys, there's no need for hostility. I'll be the ref. However, I can only do so after my spar with Sasuke," Lee said.

Kiba shrugged. "Then hurry up and finish. We're fighting at Training Ground 12."

Lee nodded. "Very well. I shall be there."

Kiba smirked. "Good. Naruto will need a lifeline, after all."

Sasuke scoffed, waving Kiba off. "Yeah, whatever. Get lost. I'm tired of hearing you."

Kiba scowled and rolled his eyes, walking off. "Yeah, whatever, Uchiha. When I'm done with Naruto, you're next."

Sasuke turned to Lee and chuckled. 'We'll see about that.'

---

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Hyuga Compound}

Hinata had been skulking about her own home for a while now, waiting for her grandfather to come out of his office. However, the old man seemed to be holding a meeting inside. This wasn't a problem in the typical sense, but she was determined to keep her word to her father. She was very curious to know what the letter for Neji might contain. She wasn't nosy enough to open it if she did end up finding it, but she did wonder what effect it might have on her cousin.

To pass the time, she performed one of the many roles bestowed upon her as heiress. Overseeing the training of the younger members of the main family. This was meant to create a bond with her future followers and establish some sense of trust. Usually, she would be attending a class under one of the elders, listening to some kind of lecture, but they were all busy. Instead, this task had been given to her, and she hated it.

Hinata stood in the courtyard, her sharp gaze focused on the younger members of the main family as they sparred before her. She moved through the training ground, giving instructions here and there, correcting a form, and demonstrating a gentle palm strike. Despite her composed demeanor, her mind was far from the training before her.

Taking a deep breath, Hinata tried to let her irritation fade as she instructed one of the boys to hold his stance better. Her eyes flickered over the boy's form. He was attentive, focused—unlike her. But she couldn't let her frustrations get the best of her, not in front of them.

"Focus, Omori," she snapped, her tone sharper than she intended. The young boy flinched, adjusting his stance immediately. Hinata softened her expression and sighed, realizing her frustration was slipping through. She nodded at him. "Better. Hold it there and try again."

Omori nodded and struck a wooden pole in front of him, making it vibrate slightly.

She nodded and tugged on his arm, adjusting his stance. "Relax your form a bit. This move doesn't require so much tension-"

"Will you stop coming over to my side?!" yelled a boy from the other side of the training yard.

"I'm not on your side! Stop pestering me!"

Hinata's eye twitched, and she huffed, leaving Omori to handle the boys' bickering.

Taro and Hiro continued to argue, their voices rising above the rest of the training session. Taro shoved Hiro, who retaliated with a swift push back, nearly knocking Taro off his feet. Enraged, Taro lunged, only to be caught by the scruff of his haori by Hinata, who was clearly unamused.

"That's enough!" Hinata's voice cut through the courtyard like a knife. "What do you think you're doing? This is training, not a street fight. You're supposed to be learning discipline. This behavior is unbecoming of a member of the main family."

She released Taro, and the young boy, barely ten years old, dropped to the ground with a thud, looking up at Hinata with a mix of fear and respect. Taro glared at Hiro before looking back up at her, then lowered his head, mumbling an apology. Hiro followed suit, his face flushed with embarrassment. Hinata sighed, her gaze softening slightly.

"Apologize to each other, not to me," she ordered. The boys hesitated for a moment before muttering their apologies. Hinata nodded. "Good. Now, get back to your stances. Focus on your forms."

As the boys returned to their training, Hinata sensed someone approaching. "Lady Hinata," a voice called from the edge of the courtyard.

Hinata turned, her gaze falling on a branch servant, who approached with his head bowed low. She raised an eyebrow as he came to a stop before her.

"What is it?" she asked in a cool tone.

"Lord Higashi requests your presence, my lady," the servant replied, keeping his gaze lowered.

Hinata narrowed her eyes. The idea of Higashi requesting an audience with her was almost laughable. She had no desire to see him, let alone entertain whatever scheme he had in mind.

"No," she said curtly. "I have no interest in meeting with him."

The servant's eyes widened slightly, and he looked up, a hint of desperation in his gaze. "Please, Lady Hinata. Lord Higashi was insistent. He said it was of utmost importance. I understand your reservations, but the stakes are high."

Hinata stared at the servant, her eyes cold. She knew Higashi's nature well. Manipulative, deceitful, cutthroat, and a conniving dried-out piece of shit. But the servant's desperation piqued her curiosity. What could be so urgent that Higashi was practically begging for her presence?

"Fine," she said, nodding sharply. "Lead the way."

The servant led her through the compound, past the training grounds and into the branch family wing. It was a part of the Hyuga estate that she rarely visited, and for good reason. It held too many painful memories. They eventually reached a door leading to the drawing-room, and the servant gestured for her to enter.

Hinata stepped inside, her eyes immediately falling on Higashi, who was seated at a low table with a shogi board set up between them, along with a tea set. He looked up as she entered, his expression unreadable.

"Ah. Lady Hinata," he said, his voice polite and reserved. "Thank you for coming."

"Spare me the pleasantries, Higashi," Hinata replied coldly, moving to sit across from him. "What do you want?"

He wore a grandfatherly smile and gestured to the board. "Brown or gray?" he asked.

"I'm not here to play," she replied.

Higashi gave her a thin smile and clasped his hands together. "Come now. Why not play a game with me while we talk? The last time we did, you interrupted a game I was already playing. Why not start on an even playing field?"

Hinata frowned. "I didn't come here to play games. If you have something to say, say it."

Higashi raised an eyebrow, his smile widening. "Oh? Afraid you'll lose to the one who taught you the game, little one?"

Hinata's eyes narrowed in anger. She hated him, hated his smug expression and his nature altogether. She didn't want to indulge him, but there was something about the way he looked at her. She clenched her jaw but calmed down.

"Fine," she said, shifting the board so that the brown pieces were facing her. "I'll amuse you."

Higashi chuckled. "Wonderful."

They began to play, moving their pieces in silence for a few moments before Hinata spoke again. "Get to the point, Higashi. Why did you call me here?"

Higashi moved a piece, his eyes not leaving the board. "I've heard some interesting things lately. About you, and about Naruto Uzumaki. Specifically, your use of my servants to assist him. I'm curious, what exactly are your intentions there?"

Hinata's eyes flickered up, her expression unreadable. "My business with Naruto is my own, Higashi. I have no intention of discussing it with you."

Higashi smiled. "Of course, Lady Hinata. I wouldn't expect you to divulge anything so easily. Still, I already know about Hiroshi's plans for expansion. The Namikaze land, the district, I know it all. I must admit, I am curious why you haven't been more aggressive in securing Naruto. I would have thought you would make more headway by now."

Hinata looked up at Higashi as she moved her piece, and his smirk vanished. Her stare was much like his brother's, much like Hiroshi's. "You're concerned with the wrong thing, Higashi. If you already have an in-depth understanding of what is going on, then why waste time on something I have no interest in discussing with you?"

Higashi leaned back, studying the board and analyzing her move. "You misunderstand me, Lady Hinata. I am not here to antagonize you. I am here to offer my assistance. You see, I believe we may have some common ground here."

Hinata raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Common ground? With you? I highly doubt that."

Higashi's smile returned, though colder this time. "Perhaps. But I am willing to work with you to ensure Naruto's cooperation."

Hinata's gaze flicked up to Higashi with confusion. "Excuse me?"

"I believe there is something to be gained by having Namikaze-sama on our side. We-"

"There is no 'our side' in this. There is only Hiroshi and me. You presume too much, Higashi." Hinata looked back down at the board. "Make a move already, old man."

Higashi sighed and moved a piece prematurely.

Hinata smirked at this. "You invited me here and are barely playing the game. What kind of move was that?" She said as took out another one of his pieces.

Ignoring the comment, Higashi leaned forward, his expression more serious. "You may think you don't need my help, but consider this. I can revoke the use of my servants, the ones providing security for Naruto. Without them, things might become… difficult for him."

'What the hell is this old prune on? Has he even thought this through?' She thought as she leaned on her hand, growing bored with the back and forth. "Do you really think you can threaten me, Higashi? I also control main family servants. You're wasting my precious time."

Higashi's face twisted in irritation, his eyes narrowing. He let out a slow breath, forcing a smile back onto his face. "Very well. Let us move on, then. The real reason I invited you here is to discuss Hiroshi's plans for altering the Caged Bird Seal."

Hinata's gaze sharpened, her interest piqued, though she maintained a guarded demeanor. "And why would you tell me this?"

Higashi leaned forward, his voice lowering. "Because I want an alliance, Lady Hinata. I know you're not like Hiroshi. You're more... unpredictable. A renegade, perhaps. I want you to ensure that Hiashi comes into power before Hiroshi's plans come to fruition. We both know what Hiroshi is capable of."

Hinata considered his words, her face reserved, though a slight twitch of her brow betrayed her emotions. "You want my help? Very interesting. But tell me, why shouldn't I support Hiroshi's plans? A new seal could be beneficial for the main family."

Higashi's eyes widened slightly, a hint of anger and disbelief creeping into his tone. "You... you can't..." He cleared his throat and took a sip of tea, and Hinata did the same, watching him closely.

When he'd calmed himself, he shook his head. "You can't support this. Not you. It's a perversion. Your father wouldn't support this-"

"I don't care about what my father wants, nor does Hiroshi. In fact, not even you care. You called me here because you're scared," she said, amusement dancing in her eyes, and Higashi grew angry. She continued, "Grandfather hasn't shared this with me yet, which means it hasn't been discussed with the council. That's why he's blocked off his office. The scheming old man." Hinata chuckled, gesturing to the board.

Higashi gripped the table hard enough for it to splinter slightly, but he didn't seem to notice. Lost in thought, her laughter echoed in his mind. After a moment, he regained composure, his expression more determined. "It's true I fear the potential of a new seal. It would be… degrading for my family. You've always been interested in fuinjutsu, but surely you know how dangerous altering this seal could be. The branch family's control is already strained as it is. This could break them in a bad way, Hinata."

Hinata's smile widened, her eyes cold. "Perhaps that's exactly why it interests me. Maybe it's time to see just how far things can be pushed."

Higashi's face darkened, his hands trembling slightly as he clenched them on the table, the wood fully splintering. He took a deep breath, his desperation apparent. "Lady Hinata, please. You can't mean that. Hiroshi's ambitions are dangerous, and if you support them, you'll be dooming the branch family. They are still your kin, no matter what. Even Neji-"

Hinata's eyes flashed with anger, her voice cutting like ice. "Neji? You dare bring him up? He tried to kill me. The entire branch family turned their backs on me because of you, Higashi. You made sure of that. So don't try to use Neji or anyone else to guilt me into helping you. It won't work."

Higashi growled. "You speak as though you intend to fully fall into Hiroshi's clutches, girl. Is this your answer? You will stand with him, and let my family be damned?! We are family!"

Hinata's raised brow reminded him of their last encounter, and he calmed down.

Higashi swallowed, his expression faltering. He leaned forward, his voice almost pleading. "Lady Hinata. I made mistakes, but I'm trying to protect the branch family. They are my charge and my family. You must understand that Hiroshi will not stop until he has full control, and once he does, there will be no going back. Please, think of the consequences. We can work together to prevent this."

She gave him a cold smile. "Why should I care for the consequences to those who have shown me such cruelty? You speak of protecting them, but where was that protection when I needed it, Higashi? At one point, I was one of you, remember that? None of those things matter in the face of power. Power is the only language you people seem to understand. You showed me this when you used your power over others to hurt me, just like Hiroshi did. Grandfather knows this, and he will use it to his advantage, even if he must trample over the rest of his kin."

Higashi's voice cracked slightly as he spoke. "I-If not for the branch family, then think of your father at the very least. Hiashi would be a far better leader than Hiroshi. If Hiroshi succeeds, it will bring ruin to all of us, including the main family. A rebellion would ensue! Please, Lady Hinata. I'm asking you to consider the bigger picture."

Hinata smirked and moved her piece on the board, ignoring his comment.

Higashi's face darkened, his hands clasped tightly together as he regained composure, realizing her true intentions. "You're playing a dangerous game, Lady Hinata."

Hinata leaned back, her gaze unyielding. "I play whatever game suits my purposes, Higashi. Revenge isn't my goal, unless provoked. Now, tell me, what exactly are you offering in exchange for my support?"

Higashi hesitated, then spoke. "The support of the branch family. Our resources, our loyalty. I will ensure that the branch family remains loyal to you, and I will assist in any way necessary until the matter of the seal is resolved."

Hinata considered his offer, her expression thoughtful. "Until the matter of the seal is resolved? Interesting. But, no. I want something more concrete."

Higashi's eyes narrowed, but he nodded. "Very well. We'll discuss an extended period. But I expect you to hold up your end of the bargain, Lady Hinata."

Before Hinata could respond, a knock sounded at the door. Higashi's face twisted in annoyance as he turned to the door. "What is it?" he snapped.

The door opened, and a main family servant stepped in, his gaze hard and unyielding. "Lord Higashi, I suggest you speak with more respect. I'm here on behalf of Lady Hinata."

Higashi's face darkened, his eyes narrowing, but he bowed. "My apologies."

The servant turned to Hinata, bowing. "My lady, your teammate Shino has arrived. He wishes to speak with you."

Hinata nodded, rising to her feet. "Thank you. Inform Shino that I'll be there shortly."

The servant bowed again before leaving the room, and Hinata turned back to Higashi, her expression cold. "It seems our meeting will have to be cut short, Higashi."

Higashi's eyes widened slightly, a hint of panic in his gaze. "Wait—what?! This is more important than the Aburame br—child! Have we come to an agreement?!"

Hinata gave him a cold smile, clearly amused at his reaction. "I'll need time to think about it. After all, I wouldn't want to rush into anything. I'll be up against my grandfather if I side with you."

Higashi's face paled, his composure slipping. "Time? Lady Hinata, this matter is urgent—"

Hinata turned away, her voice calm. "Then I suggest you learn some patience, Higashi. We'll speak again when I'm ready."

With that, she left the room, her steps measured and confident, leaving Higashi behind, his face twisted in frustration and fear. 'That brat!' His mind racing in every direction to get her back as soon as possible.

Line break.

Once she was in the hallway and found a brief moment of privacy, she gripped her hair and tried to catch her breath. Dealing with Hiroshi and trying to stop whatever plan he had in store wasn't on her agenda. Yet, she was well aware of what could happen if nothing was done about her grandfather's schemes.

She buried her face in her hands and sighed. 'I can't seem to catch a break. Now I'm being pushed to compete against grandfather in the way I didn't want. This wasn't my plan. But having the Branch family in the palm of my hand...'

As she gathered her composure and re-entered the hall, she took another deep breath to calm her nerves. Regardless of what she wanted, Higashi was right that this wasn't what her father would wish for. The stakes had now increased, both in terms of potential gains if she succeeded and consequences if she failed.

She brushed her hair back and walked down the corridor, feeling relieved as she noticed someone else had taken her place as instructor.

When she reached the entrance, she dismissed the servant before facing Shino. "Shino, is everything okay?" she asked.

Shino let out a breath and shook his head. "No. Kiba has challenged Naruto to a fight, and I fear he may hurt himself in more ways than one. Kurenai is nowhere to be found either. I need help."

Hinata stood there for a moment, feeling a migraine coming on. "I…" She pinched the bridge of her nose as a headache surged, then nodded. "Okay. Lead the way," she said quietly.

Shino let out a sigh of relief, and together, they left the compound to stop the fight. In truth, she knew she could only do so much, but she needed the fresh air anyway.

---

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Knohagakure: Yamanaka Flower shop}

[Ino POV]

Ino stood in front of the counter, her jaw dropped a touch at what her teammates just recounted to her.

"He what?!" Ino yelled.

Shikamaru sighed and repeated himself. "Kiba is challenging Naruto to a match because he feels that Naruto's victory over him was through sheer luck... Or bad luck."

Ino shook her head at first before she burst out laughing. "Oh my god! I have to get Sakura for this! Where is this taking place?"

"Training ground 12." Choji said, his hands on his hips. "He told us not to bring you, but I felt you'd want to see this."

Ino smirked and patted his shoulder. "You'd be right. This is going to be good."

"I guess you don't have any objections then. I mean, I tried talking to him about the difference in power, but..." Shikamaru said before shrugging. "He wouldn't listen."

Ino nodded. "Well, let's not waste any time. I'll grab Sakura, and we can go watch him lose. This'll be great."

"He's gonna lose it," Shikamaru muttered.

Choji nodded. "Agreed. Though, he'll probably be back at it in no time."

---

Line break.

{ Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Training ground 12}

[1 hour later]

At this point, it was later in the afternoon. 4 O'clock had hit and Sasuke and Lee had arrived.

"Where the hell is he? He should've been here already!" Kiba muttered under his breath, running his hands through his hair.

The anticipation was eating at him, slowly becoming nervousness. He'd convinced himself that Naruto would arrive early, and the fact that Naruto hadn't even bothered to show up yet made Kiba feel as though he was being taken lightly. 'That little shit!'

Lee was sitting nearby, stretching, while Sasuke leaned casually against a tree. "Relax, Kiba," Sasuke said, his amused smirk never leaving his face. "Naruto's not the type to rush into anything anymore... Well, not unless it's worth his while. You being here early wouldn't mean much to him."

Kiba glared at Sasuke, fists clenched. "Shut the fuck up, Uchiha. You think this is funny, don't you? I'm only... I just don't want him chickening out, that's all!"

Sasuke shrugged. "It's only fitting he'd make the challenger wait."

Kiba gave Sasuke a glare, and Lee stepped forward. "Kiba, you need to calm your mind and focus your energy. Anger will only cloud your judgment. It would be better to face Naruto with a clear head."

"Calm?" Kiba growled, "How am I supposed to be calm when the idiot doesn't even take this seriously?"

Akamaru barked softly, as if trying to reassure Kiba, but it did little to ease his agitation. He continued pacing, his gaze darting around the training ground.

The fact that Naruto wasn't here made him feel like he was losing before the fight even started, and it was pissing him off fast. He needed this, he needed to prove himself in front of everyone. No more being disregarded, no more sucking up to Naruto, no more lack of respect! He'll take his spot at the top!

"If he doesn't show up soon, I'm just going to go find him myself," Kiba said, his voice tinged with frustration.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "You Sound so desperate, Kiba."

Kiba shot Sasuke a glare, his jaw tightening. "I'm not desperate! I'm just sick of him acting like he's above this! He doesn't get to ignore me!"

"Why not?" Sasuke asked with a smirk. "It sounds like he doesn't need to lift a finger. You begged him for this, after all. I wouldn't have given you the time of day."

Kiba's head was like a steaming kettle at this point. One more comment and that would be it.

Sasuke simply smirked, clearly enjoying Kiba's growing frustration. Before Kiba could respond, they heard voices approaching from the distance. Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, and Sakura arrived at the training ground, looking curious and intrigued by the impending fight.

"Looks like we're just in time!" Ino said with a grin as she walked over to the group. "So, where's Naruto? Did we miss the action?"

"No... No! I didn't invite you here, Ino!" Kiba yelled.

Ino's smug smirk grew. "And miss this? Please. This I've gotta see."

Kiba threw his arms up in the air with major frustration, and the blonde could only laugh at the sight. She'd never seen him so worked up.

Shikamaru sighed, scratching his head. "Troublesome... You're taking this way too seriously, Kiba. If Naruto's not here, just chill out for a bit. He'll show up eventually."

Kiba clenched his jaw. "Why are all of you acting like I'm the one being unreasonable here?! He accepted my challenge! The least he could do is show up on time."

Choji, trying to lighten the mood, said, "Maybe he's just running late. You know how Naruto can be sometimes... Wait. Aren't we early?" He whispered toward Sakura, confused with the time a bit.

Kiba snapped at him, his eyes narrowing. "Shut it, Choji! This isn't some joke!"

Sakura stepped forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "Hey, watch how you snap at people! He didn't say anything wrong! Keep acting like this, and I'll embarrass you myself."

Kiba glared at Sakura but didn't say anything. He knew better than to provoke the girl any further. He had to save his energy for his real target.

Kiba went back to pacing, and Sakura looked over to Ino and leaned in. "Listen. Please don't say anything to upset him further. There's something off about Kiba. I don't understand his aggression toward Naruto."

Ino scoffed at that and sat down on the picnic blanket Choji was setting up. "He's always had it out for Naruto. This isn't anything new."

"I don't want to sound rude... But I don't think you get how this kind of rivalry affects someone." Sakura said quietly.

"I'm sorry?" Ino asked, not believing that Sakura had just tried to school her.

"Kiba isn't... The most... How do I say this?... His ego is a fragile thing, I suppose you can say. He's a male Inuzuka viewing Naruto as some... I don't know... A challenger to some imaginary throne. I think it's a clan thing." Sakura said.

"You make him sound like an animal," Ino muttered.

"I didn't mean it that way... It's just... We didn't grow up around him. He may be dealing with something we just don't understand." Sakura said, rubbing her arm as she spoke.

Shikamaru nodded. "Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. Just don't belittle him. I don't care for the way he acts in public, but he's still a comrade."

Ino simply crossed her arms. "Yeah, I get it already, geez."

"Snacks, anyone?" Choji asked, putting out his basket.

Shikamaru nodded and sat beside his friend, the girls doing the same. It could be a bit of a wait.

---

Line break.

Kiba, who was now doing stretches, paused when he smelled a familiar scent. 'Damn you, Shino.' He thought in his head.

He saw the two of them approaching. Shino, being trailed by Hinata. "Kiba. We need to talk."

"No, we don't," Kiba growled. 'Great! Just what I needed. Shino up my ass again.'

"Kiba, I don't think this is a good idea. I feel like-"

"Listen. You can take that crap and go home." Kiba cut off, a scowl on his features.

Hinata watched as Shino tried his best to talk Kiba down, but she knew that wouldn't work. Kiba made his mind up some time ago, and thinking back to yesterday, she feels it could be because of her.

"Kiba," Hinata cut in as their argument began to escalate. She remained silent for a moment, seemingly in deep thought, which made Kiba tense up a bit.

'Why am I wasting my energy on stopping something that has nothing to do with me? I can't stress over something like this... Not today. Whatever happens, happens,' She reasoned in her head. She closed her eyes and let out a breath. "Just be careful in your match. If you feel this is necessary, I won't get in your way. This is obviously important to you."

Kiba blinked at that, not at all expecting her to support... No, tolerate this. It was a pleasant surprise. 'Wow. She... Ok! She's on board! I can't lose in front of her!'

Kiba straightened his posture and nodded. "I'm not just horsing around here. I'm gonna rip him a new one for his arrogance!" He said with confidence.

Shino, who was still in a state of disbelief that Hinata is allowing this, slapped his forehead, and Hinata raised a brow. "Arrogance?"

"This all started because he claimed he could beat me without using ninjutsu! That's-" He stopped himself and took a breath, realizing he was being loud. "Wouldn't you agree that's rediculous? And he did it in front of our classmates. I have to stand my ground."

"He said that after you provoked him nonstop to a fight. You were disruptive." Shino said.

"Who's side are you on?!" Kiba growled.

"Stop. Both of you." Hinata said with a sigh. "Let it go, Shino. Kiba can make his own decisions. We can't force him on anything here."

Shino sighed and shook his head. He watched Hinata leave to sit down with the other spectators before addressing Kiba. "Listen. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

"I'm not a toddler." Kiba said crossing his ams.

"I never meant in just the physical sense. Naruto... He's reasonable, but I fear that if provoked, he could do something really bad." Shino said.

Kiba scoffed. "If you aren't going to support me, then get lost. I don't need distractions."

Shino nodded. "I tried."

He turned around and made his way over to Hinata, and Kiba shook his head. "No one here supports me or thinks I can win. We'll show them. Never underestimate the underdog."

In this, Akamaru growled in agreement, though admittedly, he was afraid. Akamaru can't make Kiba see reason. That meant enduring. He remembers Naruto's battle, and unlike Kiba, Akamaru has a good sense of what fighting Naruto could mean. The result may not be very pretty.

---

Line break.

Another hour passed, and Kiba was ready to rage out at this point. What could be taking the blonde so long?! Everyone else was chill but him.

'Fucking asshole, making me wait all this time. Where is he?!'

He thought this while pacing around with his hands in his pocket and slouched over.

"Well, well. If it isn't the man of the hour." Ino said, and Kiba turned to where she was to see Naruto walking onto the training ground.

From Kiba's perspective, the boy strolled onto the field like he owned the place, an arrogant smirk on his face as he greeted those he came across with the occasional wave.

"Hey everyone," The boy said sofly while enjoying what looked to be an ice cream bar. In fact, there was two in his hand.

Sakura smiled and waved. "You're late. The competition is angry with you."

He nodded. "Figures. Here." He said softly, and Ino strolled up with a huge smile.

"Naruto! I didn't know you were a gentleman. Thanks." She said, grabbing a bar.

The fellow blonde chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, you can have it, Ino. I wasn't gonna eat it anyway."

"Thanks!" She called out, skipping back to her seat as he set his bag down by his team.

"What's with the bag?" Sakura asked after he greeted Shino, Shikamaru, and the others.

"I'm actually gonna tell you guys after I deal with Kiba." He looked to see Lee waving him over, and he smirked. "Wow. I wasn't expecting anybody to show up for this."

"I got dragged here, so..." Shikamaru said with a sigh, and Naruto nodded and walked over to an inpatient Kiba and an excited Lee.

He gave Sasuke a passing fistbump and faced the two, Sasuke walking back over to Sakura.

Lee smiled and shook his hand. "Ah. Good to see you again, Naruto. I never got to say thank you for the incredible match at the exams. You have my upmost respect." He said.

Naruto smirked and nodded. "You were something incredible yourself, Lee. How have you been?"

Lee's smile grew. "I've been well. I just got challenged by Sasuke to a match today. It was spectacular!"

Naruto raised a brow. "Really? How did he do?-"

"Oy! I'm right here, Uzumaki! You gonna acknowledge your opponent?!" Kiba yelled, Akamaru barking at his side.

"Oh, relax. I'm saving the best for last." The blonde said with a sigh. "Sorry for being a little late, but before we start this, I gotta ask. What's with that look?"

Kiba raised a brow. "What look?"

"You look like you hate me or somethin'. Did I do something to you? Did I say something to bring this upon myself? We weren't friends in the academy, but this seems a bit much." Naruto said while crossing his arms.

Kiba's eyes narrowed. "I'm just tired of you walking around here with the idea that you're-"

"Jealous much?" Naruto said suddenly, and Kiba saw red. The boy swiped at him, and Naruto leaned away with a chuckle.

Before Kiba could lunge, Lee appeared in his way. "Hold on! We haven't gone over the rules yet!"

Kiba growled. "Same rules at the Chunin exams! I told you!"

Lee sighed. "That isn't wise. We'll do this instead. This will be a knockout match or will end in a yield... That, or until I call it. We don't want to take things too far. This is risky as is."

Kiba waved him off. "Yeah, yeah, I get it! Let's get this thing going already!" He said, getting into a readied stance.

Naruto smirked and nodded. "One more thing. Let's make this clear to everyone that I stand by what I said at the restaurant."

"Excuse me?!" Kiba hissed.

"Yeah. Here's the deal. If you can force me to use ninjutsu, I'll allow you to challenge me again at a later date." Naruto said with a smug smirk.

"You think you're hot shit, you fucking weasel?!" Kiba roared, and Naruto raised a brow before his expression became serious.

"I mean it. If you can't make me put the effort into using ninjutsu for whatever reason, Don't ever challenge me again. This happens to be an inconvenience to me, coming here to validate your ego. Tch. Pathetic." Naruto said with a scoff, and Kiba nearly blew up.

Then, to everyone's surprise, he stopped, took a breath, and calmed down. "Fuck you, Naruto."

He turned to Lee and nodded. "I'm gonna show you what happens when you get the big head."

Naruto's smirk only grew and he nodded at Lee as well. "We're ready."

Lee nodded. "Ah, ok. Then, without further ado... -"

Kiba got into his style's form. He glanced at Hinata and began sweating. 'Watch me, Hinata. Watch closely.'

Lee looked between them before nodding. "Let the fight begin!" He announced.

Kiba immediately dashed at Naruto, the boy in front of Naruto in a mere moment.

A series of hooks and jabs are sent Naruto's way and easily avoided with the blonde batting the Inuzuka's strikes away with a smug expression. Naruto weaved under a hook and lightly kicked Kiba's ankle, the boy's balance compromised for a moment before he was back on top of him again.

'Wow. No footwork whatsoever.' Naruto thought as he bent away from another swipe from Kiba.

Kiba then went for a leg sweep, and Naruto simply jumped over it, landing a bit away before noting Akamaru coming in to bite him in the ankle to try and trip him up.

He scoffed and spun on his heel, scooping the small dog with the hook of his ankle alone before twisting into a kick, tossing the pup at Kiba, the Inuzuka catching him and rolling back from the sudden force. "Akamaru! You okay, pal?"

The dog yapped, and before the Inuzuka could say anything else, a flash went across his vision when Naruto's foot met his face, sending the boy sprawling across the field.

---

Line break.

"Oh! Damn! I know that hurt!" Choji said in the background while Shino sighed. Ino and Sakura began commenting as well, and he knew it wasn't anything good. 'The difference in skill is... Vast. Kiba. You need to use your head in this fight. You're the underdog here.' Shino thought to himself.

"Pay attention, Kiba! If this is all you've got, you should hit the road now and save time!" Sasuke said from his spot.

Hinata's brow raised at this. 'I thought he said he'd been training. I don't see a change.'

---

Line break.

Kiba groaned and rolled off of Akamaru, getting to his feet as he inspected his nose, all while keeping his gaze on Naruto. He'd forgotten how fast the blonde had gotten.

"Shut up, Uchiha! I-"

Kiba stopped talking when Naruto was already in his face, and put his hands up to block what was coming. But an uppercut that bypassed his flimsy defense met his chin, followed by a palm thrust to his solar plexus, knocking the wind out of the boy in a pained grunt.

Naruto appeared behind Kiba in a blur and sent a kick to the back of his leg that sent the Inuzuka to his knees before a follow-up to the back of the head sent him sliding face-first across the grass. All of this happened in a span of a few seconds.

Lee stepped a little closer, as Kiba laid on his his face for a moment.

Kiba raised his hand and growled through the pain. "G-Get!... Get back! Urgh."

Kiba struggled to his feet as he felt the trauma to his lungs and stomach.

"Kiba. Let me make this clear. I won't be making it a habit of fighting people I've bested before, so if you don't take this seriously, you're eating dirt, and I'm going home," Naruto said as he crossed his arms.

'Fuck this guy! He wants to play dirty? Fine! No more holding back!'

Kiba got into an altered stance of his clan's style, one that doesn't rely solely on instinct, but skill as well. He had his sister teach him this in the hopes of countering opponents like Naruto, Sasuke, and Lee. It was outdated, though.

He then took a deep breath and exhaled. 'I have to be patient. I won't make the same mistake as last time.'

Kiba's change was just like in the exams. Claws, teeth, and no doubt, enhanced speed. "Let's do this!" The boy yelled, Akamaru barking at his side, ready to support his partner at a moment's notice.

In a blur, Kiba was in front of Naruto, going for a charging clawed thrust, only to be side-stepped and front kicked in the side, the boy sent away.

It didn't stop the Akamaru/Kiba clone from rushing in from the other direction, the Inuzuka going for a kick, yet, again, it was a miss. Naruto ducked low to avoid the charging roundhouse before dashing to the left to dodge a heel kick.

Kiba growled and raced to Naruto's flank to try and catch the blonde off-guard, but one moment, the blonde was avoiding Akamaru; the next, Kiba was running into Naruto's elbow, the boy obviously faster by an entire league.

Kiba's vision flashed a second time today, and he was completely stunned. On instinct, he swung his fists about, panicking at the lack of vision, only to feel his face grabbed before being thrown to the ground with shocking force, the boy rolling away once again.

Akamaru raced and swiped at Naruto's back, but he was blonde, bent away from the attack while gripping the clone's hand before he yanked it down to the floor, bringing his elbow down on its back and dispelling it.

Kiba growled and went for another swipe, only to be caught by the wrist, brought to Naruto's face for a headbutt to the nose, and a foot landed on the boy's chest, sending him rolling backwards.

Kiba tried to scramble to his feet, but again, a foot was planted gently on Kiba's shoulder before shoving him across the field, Natuto watching the by scramble while he had his hands in his pockets.

Naruto smirked at the sight. "There's no way you've talked all this trash and with nothing to back it up. You're no stronger than you were during the exams. What have you been doing all this time?"

Kiba's eyes flashed with rage. "The hell did you say!? I'm a lot stronger! You haven't seen shit!"

Naruto shook his head. "Nah. I've seen enough. You've wasted my time with this."

Kiba went into his pocket and flicked a pill toward Akamaru before taking one himself.

Kiba growled and got into an all-fours stance. "You haven't seen our true all-fours, Naruto!" Kiba yelled, chakra pouring from him.

The Akamaru clone joined him, and their senses seemed to enhance further, veins appearing on their faces.

Kiba then rushed forward, moving faster than he had in the exams, something that surprised Naruto as he was almost clawed in the face. Yet, Naruto retaliated faster than Kiba could have anticipated.

Naruto's fist was a blur, a hook sending Kiba's head snapping to the side and sending the boy flying back, forcing a charging Akamaru to jump over the body as he came at Naruto.

Kiba slid across the ground before rolling to his knees as he held his jaw, the counterstrike shocking him. 'What kind of force?!' He thought as he groaned, tears of pain pricking his eyes as he felt a Moler or two loosen.

By the time he recovered, Akamaru had slammed into him and had been sent flying from one of Naruto's attacks.

Both opponents became tangled into each other as they slid further away, prompting Lee to get closer, making sure things didn't get out of hand.

Kiba set his clone aside, and a shadow came over him.

He yelped as Naruto's heel almost slammed down on his crotch, and before he could protest, a devastating spin kick was delivered to his chest.

Kiba cried out and was sent rolling to the other side of the field, and his clone came in more fiercly than before, swiping and clawing at Naruto.

The clone attempted to dash around the blonde, but was intercepted as though he weren't moving at all. His ankle was grabbed, and he was yanked into a fist to the jaw.

Akamaru's transformation was dispelled, the puppy yelping and sent flying away.

"Bastard!" Kiba yelled as he lunged, but Naruto delivered a high-kick that caught the Inuzuka mid-air, causing him to hit the ground hard.

Kiba rolled away from a stomp, the boy gasping with fear as he saw the ground become displaced.

"W-wait a sec-"

The Inuzuke was cut off by a fist slamming into his gut, knocking the wind out of him. 'I can't do anything to him! Why can't I get anything down?!' Kiba thought in his head, feeling like a fool.

As Kiba began losing strength in his legs, Naruto lifted him up by the shirt and slapped him across the face before letting him fall to the ground like a sack of potatoes. He then kicked Kiba in the side, the boy crying out in pain.

"You can't do any better than this? Really?" Naruto asked as he stepped over the boy. Akamaru was trying to come to the rescue, but he stopped as Naruto stood between him and his master.

"That was pathetic." Naruto said with a smile that pissed the Inuzuka off.

Kiba rolled away, and Naruto let him. That fact made this far worse. Knowing he'd been at the blonde's mercy this whole time was rage-inducing. Yet, hearing his classmates talking about his pitiful performance was far worse.

'Shit! Shit! Do something to change things, Kiba!' He thought with rage.

"Ok, Akamaru! No more games!" He yelled as he circled Naruto. "It's time we-"

Kiba gasped as a hook nearly met his face, the Inuzuka bending away. 'T-Too fast! I-'

A follow-up slap was delivered, accompanied by a series of jabs that slipped through Kiba's guard.

Kiba sent a desperate hook, and with Akamaru suddenly biting Naruto's leg, it landed, allowing Kiba to dash away and catch his breath. Akamaru was kicked off the blonde's ankle, and Kiba smirked. "H-How'd you like that?!"

Naruto laughed at that. "About time you landed something. But as you can see, it did nothing. Your dog did more than you." Naruto said, pointing to his relatively undamaged cheek. "You hit like a girl."

"Oy!" Sakura yelled from a distance, and Naruto raised his hands.

"C-Civilian girl! I meant Civilian!" He stammered.

Kiba's eyes narrowed, seeing this as an opportunity to attack. Akamaru transformed into a clone of him once more, and the two charged. This time in unison.

Both he and Akamaru dashed toward Naruto with as much speed as they could muster and went in for a charge, and the blonde caught Kiba's wrist and his clone's fist before letting go to dodge between their swipes.

It was then that the two went for what they deemed their ultimate combo, with Kiba taking the lead in sending flurries of chops, kicks, and swipes and the clone backing him up, jumping in to prevent the blonde from retaliating.

---

Line break.

"That's an improvement," Hinata whispered, and Ino scoffed.

"He isn't even hitting him. How is that better?" The girl asked.

"Because he's managed to keep the momentum going. He's doing well in preventing Naruto from attacking." She replied, her voice low as she spoke. 'It doesn't mean much, though. Naruto... Isn't exerting himself.'

Hinata wasn't the only one thinking this. Shino was watching as Naruto avoided Kiba's attacks with relative ease. He was going nowhere against someone with so much stamina to burn.

'Kiba, if you're going to win this, you need to change your tactics.' Shino thought, hoping his comrade would come up with a solution before Naruto decided he had enough.

Line break.

'C'mon! Sit still!' Kiba thought as he and Akamaru attacked Naruto at the same time. The blonde was avoiding both their strikes with such ease that it made the Inuzuka lose patience.

Kiba's clone grunted, and the two ran around Naruto at high speed, the blonde not doing anything to stop what they were doing.

It was when Kiba and his cloned turned on a dime and spun in a rotation of claws and wind that Naruto moved, the boy using his signature move to pincer him with Akamru.

"Ninja art: Fang over Fang!" The boy yelled as he and Akamaru grinded against nothing, Naruto having blurred out of the way. This didn't stop them, though.

Both drills twisted in his directon and raced for him, and Naruto waited until the very last second before dashing out of the way.

The attack ripped some of the ground apart as it came down, and both Kiba and his clone came out of the attack frustrated.

"Where did you go?!" Kiba stressed, looking around as the dust settled. He had his back to Akamaru and both were on guard, but Naruto was nowhere in sight.

They looked up to see Naruto descending on top of Kiba, a leg raised in a falling kick that would've knocked him out, only for him to be saved by a bark from his clone, the Inuzuka rolling away in time to avoid a nasty strike.

"Ok, Akamaru! Let's try this again! I have his pattern down!" Kiba yelled.

His clone was silent for a moment before grunting, and both of them got onto their all-fours stance. "Get ready!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed at this. 'I'm never letting him challenge me again.'

They dashed, and unfortunately, Naruto dashed back, the boy blurring past him to slam a charging elbow into his clone, shocking Kiba greatly. He couldn't react at all as the Kiba clone dispersed into a yelping Akamaru, the pup thrown across the field.

Kiba whirled and swiped at Naruto with his claws, only for his wrist to be grabbed, making Kiba panic and grasp at Naruto's free wrist to prevent a counter.

This didn't help.

He pushed against the blonde, but even with his enhanced strength, he couldn't make him budge. "W-What the hell are you on, cheating bastard?!" Kiba groaned as he strained again Naruto's strength before he was brought to his knee.

It was at that moment that he felt his caught wrist squeezed to the point of his joint popping, making the boy yelp in pain and let go of Naruto's free arm to pry the grip away.

A major mistake.

A front kick to the chest sent him sliding on his back.

Kiba growled and flipped mid-slid to get to his feet, but before his feet could hit the ground, Naruto was already in his space, his stance low as he swept Kiba's feet from under him before they could even touch the ground, causing Kiba to fall on his side.

Then, Kiba received a kick to the stomach that made him vomit, and Naruto jumped away. "Agh! No! Not on my damn sandal! Ah! Disgusting!" Naruto screamed, throwing his shoe away and flicking his foot.

Kiba wiped his mouth and struggled to his feet, coughing. He looked to the crowd and wished he could disappear as Ino was laughing her ass off with Choji and Sasuke, Shino giving him a look of pity, Sakura hiding her guilty smile. And then, there was Hinata. Hinata, who he wanted to impress more than any of them, looking like she didn't want to watch anymore.

"Shit... Shit!" He hissed, closing his eyes. He reached into his pocket as Naruto wiped his foot, and held a yellow pill in his hand. 'I won't lose to you again! Not in front of her!'

Just as he was about to toss the pill in his mouth, his hand was stomped on, eliciting a cry from the boy.

"Really, Kiba? Doping to keep up? I accepted the red pill and all, but if it's gonna be like that, I'll make this go along faster." Naruto said.

Kiba struggled to get his hand free, grunting frantically, but was manhandled into a face-first position, his arms behind his back, and dread washed over him as he felt his joints strain aginst his hold. His pride screamed for him to win this match to prove whose truly Alpha, yet, his mind told him to give it up. He was outclassed.

"Get off!" He choked out.

"Kiba," Naruto said quietly before leaning down. "Who's the alpha?"

Kiba's eyes widened at this and his thrashing grew even more. "Get off of me! Get off!"

"Say it."

"GET OFF OF ME!" The boy screeched.

His classmates looked ready to step in, but Lee put a handout and began approaching the two.

Naruto's grip on Kiba got unbearably tight, and Kiba's world got dim as he started to pass out. "C'mon, Kiba. Don't waste my time. If you pass out, I'll call it for what it is, so say it."

"N-Never..." He wheezed.

Naruto scoffed and got off of him just as Lee got to them. "We're done here. Don't ever challenge me to a fight again. You hear me Kiba?!" Naruto called out as he walked away.

Lee bent down to help the Inuzuka but got his hand slapped away. "Get the f-fuck off of me!" He yelled out in a broken voice. "I'm not d-done, Naruto!"

Naruto waved him off as he reached his friends, who all congratulated him.

Kiba could hear them all laughing. Sasuke was probably enjoying every moment of his loss. His eyes began to tear up, but he refused to let any fall.

'No. No! I won't go down like this!' He thought as he limped over. "This isn't over! Put em' up! Now!"

Naruto turned around with genuine surprise and annoyance. "Kiba, you're bruised up as it is. Any more and we could get in trouble. I don't even have the time to-"

"SHUT UP!" Kiba roared. "Just... Just... Put 'em up! Come on!" The boy pleaded.

Shikamaru sighed and stood up, shaking his head and gesturing to Akamaru who was limping toward them. "Your partner is in pain and needs treatment. Kiba, this has gone too far."

"Excuse me?! Who the fuck do you think you are, Uzumaki?!" Kiba roared, sending a fist his way. Unfortunately, Lee caught it.

"No, Kiba! Enough is enough! The match is over. If the exams were taking place-"

"I never conceded! Get off me!" Kiba yelled, swiping his hand away. His breaths were shallow with his rage. He then turned back to Naruto, who now has Sakura and Sasuke behind him.

"I said get back over here!" He yelled. "I won't accept this loss!" He screamed.

Naruto waved him off. "I beat you without ninjutsu, Kiba. Don't challenge me again."

Kiba grabbed the back of Naruto's collar. But in a flash, his hand was grabbed, twisted, and shoved away, making Kiba recoil from Naruto in shock and pain. "Will you piss off already?! What is with you?! Why are you so hellbent on picking a fight with me?! I just beat your ass! Sit the fuck down already!"

"No!" Kiba roared, and it was then that Naruto noticed the barely contained-tears in his eyes. He looked distraught. "This doesn't mean shit!"

"It does," Naruto replied, his voice a little calmer. "I beat you fair and square, so stop. Listen. I'll let you-"

"Don't you dare act righteous now, you fucker!" Kiba yelled, slamming a finger on Naruto's chest.

"Oh will you give it a rest already, Kiba? Gosh, you're such a baby. Naruto won. Deal with it." Ino said from behind, her arms crossed and a teasing smirk on her face that spelled trouble. "The worse you make this, the harder it'll be to live this down."

The other kids joined in, and Kiba backed away, his humiliation complete. Shino looked disappointed and slightly worried; Sasuke looked at him with an expression that told him in his mind, he'd never live this down; Choji and Shikamaru were watching with interest, Sakura looked at him with pity, and Hinata... She looked at him with indifference.

Kiba, unable to take anymore humiliation, dashed off, grabbing a whimpering Akamaru as he did so, leaving Naruto, Lee, and the spectators to watch as he disappeared from sight.

Shikamaru sighed. "This could've gone so much smoother..."

Naruto paid it no mind. Kiba had been on his ass since day one, and he'd been nice enough not to clown him back then. Hell, by all means, he could've seriously fucked him up here too. However, he's Shino and Hinata's teammate. That's really his only saving grace.

"What a baby," Ino said with a scoff.

Before Naruto could utter anything, Choji stood up. "Oh! Naruto! Mind taking us out to eat again?! I could use a real meal."

Naruto looked at the boy with a bewildered expression. "Choji, you're eating as you speak!"

"Ah, this is just me snacking." The boy said before being ushered up by Shikamaru. "Ignore him, Naruto. We'll be seeing ya. Obviously, the show is over."

"Huh?! But I wanted to see if-"

Choji was cut off by Shikamaru whispering something in his ear. Whatever it was, it made Choji nod and give a bow. "Ah. Um... That was rather rude of me, sorry... Til next time!"

He said before jogging off.

Naruto raised a brow as everyone packed up, and Ino patted him on the back. "Be seeing ya, Naruto-kun!" She said as she left.

Afterward, Shino shook his hand and thanked him for not going too far with Kiba, and Hinata gave a slight wave as she left too, her mind occupied. Lee would go on to leave on good terms as well, leaving Naruto and his team on the field.

"You should've beaten him into the ground." Sasuke said with a scowl, crossing his arms.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "I'd get in trouble if he turned up to Kurenai-sensei with something serious. He can give any excuse he wants now."

"Like him falling down a flight of stairs?" Sasuke snorted.

Sakura shook her head at that and disregarded the subject altogether. "Well, aside from that, how are you holding up? You seem... Different."

Naruto scratched the back of his head and thought about it. "Nah, I'm still pretty messed up. I'm just not as bad as before since a weight has been lifted off of me... And you?"

She scowled and scratched her cheek. " Umm... I'm... Hanging in there... Let's-"

"Already dropped." Naruto said, understanding immediately. "Oh, and Sasuke. You mentioned fighting Lee. How did that go?" he asked as they began walking off the training field.

Sasuke smirked and put his hands in his pocket. "I won. He's tough, though. And fast... But so am I."

Naruto's gaze fell on Sasuke at that, and he noticed how the Uchiha was giving him a challenging look.

'Ah. I see. You've improved that much, huh? Alright. We'll see how strong you really are when I get back.' He thought to himself.

Line break.

{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Konoha North Gate}

The team would go on to catch up a little before parting ways, with Naruto having informed them of his plans with Jiraiya.

Naturally, there was curiosity and questions, and even disappointment on Sakura's part. She really wanted him around a little more now that he's back to his old self... Kinda. However, If the Sannin was saying his presence was important, then it was what it was.

Now, as instructed by Jiraiya, Naruto sat in front of the Konoha front gate, the boy had waited there for a good few hours. By the time the old man got there, Kotetsu and Izumo were teaching Naruto how to play cards.

"Ha! Gotcha, you lucky brat!" Izumo yelled, slamming his cards on the table.

Naruto raised a brow and looked at his own cards rather innocently, not understanding the significance of Izumo's hand.

Izumo chuckled and drank his Sake as Naruto tried to remember the rules of the game.

"Uh-"

"You're good, Naruto. Go on." Kotetsu said with an amused and bewildered look.

Naruto shrugged and set his down, and Izumo spat his drink out and jumped out of his chair. "What the hell?! A straight?! Kotetsu, he's gotta be cheating! I-... You guys are doing something, I know it!' He yelled in defeat.

Naruto laughed at this. "Alright, sucker. Do I win or not?"

Just as an answer was about to be given, Naruto looked to the side to see Jiraiya at the door with his arms crossed, an amused smirk on his lips. "Ahem. Gentlemen. I'll be taking my apprentice now."

The two shinobi scrambled to their feet, realizing how distracted they allowed themselves to become. That's a huge penalty, especially at times of war. "Sorry, sir!" They both saluted as Naruto grabbed his bag and waved goodbye.

"I'm sure it's fine. Thanks, guys!" He waved as he left with the Sannin.

On their way down the road, Naruto turned and gave the man an annoyed look. "What took you so long? I was there for two hours."

"You look like you were having fun, kid." Jiraiya replied with an amused huff.

"Yeah, well, you were taking your sweet ass time. I got bored, and they were entertaining." He said.

Jiraiya nodded and kept his eyes on the road.

"What's she like?" Naruto asked as the village gates became smaller and smaller as they left Konoha.

"She's complicated... Very complicated."

---

Line break.

End chapter.

{A/N}
Sorry for the wait. I had to entertain guests staying over at the house. They're finally gone for now. I'll be focusing on Naruto's trip next chapter to put the other political stuff on the backburner for now. It'll come up in bits and pieces, but that's it. My birthday is in a few days now, and people keep pestering me on what I want to do when I just want to write. But it is what it is.

This chapter was 16k, so that should make up for it. After all, it's two chapters in one in terms of length.

I'll also fix any mistakes after I get some sleep.

{A/N}

Jeronoble chapter 31 . Nov 4

a question yugao is going to appear more?

{Yes. She will play a crucial role later on. I meant to go over her fate since she's out of commission, but I don't think it's much of a spoiler to reveal she's alive and kicking. I have plans for her.}

Samuel Santillan chapter 31 .Nov 4

I loved it, good chapter.

Maybe Naruto doesn't remember the fight with Kiba, maybe Sakura and Sasuke will remind him.

Naruto could end the fight quickly, go with Jiraiya and start the mission, because if he doesn't have the fight with Kiba he could get even more angry with Naruto.

Thinking about it, if Naruto beats Kiba even holding back everything will end badly since it will hurt his pride even more and make him more resentful towards Naruto.
Also, if Naruto doesn't show up for the fight that will make Kiba feel angry since for Naruto that would make it seem like it's not worth fighting him.

From what I see, no one knows that Itachi and Kisame were in Konoha, not at least until Inoichi checks Danzo's mind or what's left of it.
Now that Itchai got Shukaku, they'll also get Kurama's help. I don't think it would be too risky.

One question: Will Fuu have more involvement in the story? I hope it would be interesting if Naruto met her and became friends with her, as well as avoiding her death.

I'm waiting for the next chapter.

{Well, the fight happened, so there's that. Fuu has been underutilized in the series, so yes. I intend to introduce her into the story. I don't see much of her, so hopefully, I do her justice.}

todor5448 chapter 31 . Nov 5

Ty man for the chapter, it was so good keep going like that!Btw i think that you are leaving aside some secondary characters like Shikamaru . I would advise you to give Shikamaru more prominence because you only win with how well you write.

{Thank you for the compliment. I have every character in mind when writing this, so don't worry. He's playing a much bigger role in the coming chapters.}

justkrishna19chapter 31 .Nov 11

This one is pretty good but I want ask that when you gonna post next , you said you thursday or friday but it's already Monday

{Sorry for keeping you waiting. I wasn't given any space to work on this chapter. The next one won't be as large, so it should come by pretty fast after this one.}